Saturday, November 29, 2008 by Paul
We've all seen glorious Facebook quiz that Marques Slocum put together. Luckily for us, the glorious union between Marques 'Grand Marques' Slocum and Facebook has not been severed. Rosey saw this pop up in his newsfeed and passed it along to me. For those of you with a login, login now and look at. For those of you who aren't down with social networking:  Click for largenessThere are so many layers to this group. It's like an onion that when peel away the layers it makes you laugh instead of cry. When my buddy sent me the link, I wasn't signed in, so I couldn't see all the info. The first thing I said to him was "Oh God, please let this be made by Marques Slocum." He apparently heard my prayers because when I signed in, there was his name under creator. I couldn't be more happy right now.
Labels: boring offseason, facebook, I posted, marques slocum
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Saturday, August 23, 2008 by Tim
As we get into the actual football season, the posting schedule 'round these parts is going to be changing up a bit. Here is what you can expect during the season: - Recruiting Updates will now be relegated to one day a week, which I have yet to definitively determine. However, I am contemplating making Saturday morning posts dedicated to the Friday night performances of Michigan commits. Thoughts?
- I will be posting a draft BlogPoll ballot for commenting on Mondays, then the final ballot on Wednesdays.
- The podcast will be switching from Sunday to a time late in the week. The new focus of it will be previewing the upcoming opponent. Tomorrow, the podcast will feature our guest Tony Pizza, live from Salt Lake City, Utah (by which I mean "recorded yesterday from Salt Lake City, Utah").
- I'm thinking about posting a new video feature each week that will be called "Inside the Play." It will be an in-depth breakdown of one notable play from the game in the preceding week. All in favor? Opposed?
- I will also (possibly) be trading posts once a week with our colleagues/rivals at Buckeye Commentary. More details on that forthcoming.
If you have any requests for features you'd like to see on a weekly basis, let me know in the comments. Labels: blog news, boring offseason, football, programming update
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Wednesday, August 20, 2008 by Tim
As a college football junkie, nothing is more pleasing to me than being able to watch the game every day of the week as I await the upcoming season. Yes, this even includes the 2002 Purdue-Iowa game that I am watching at 2:00 in the morning. Of course, there is also a lot of crap, and they have no idea how to run an internship program, but being able to watch college football right now is a godesend. Screw you, Comcast, for robbing me of this experience for a year. And screw you even more for acting sanctimonious about carrying the network now. everyone knows you're full of crap, why try to lie about it more? Labels: big ten network, boring offseason
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Wednesday, August 13, 2008 by Tim
On the Recruiting Board, would you prefer that I move guys to the positions that I expect they will end up playing in college (DeWayne Peace to DB, Thomas Gordon to S, etc.), or just leave them where they are for now (either where I started them off or where Scout and Rivals rank them). Also, Paul and I have started to put together the 2010 board. The format will be mostly similar, but if there are any new features or content you would like, or any idea to make it better let us know. Starting early in the game as opposed to half way through allows more time for development and tweaking, so dream big. Discuss amongst yourselves. Labels: boring offseason, recruiting
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Saturday, August 09, 2008 by Tim
Practice notes from MGoBlue, including KC Lopata nailing a 56-yard field goal in scrimmage. Grady pleads guilty to DUI. The position previews are coming along nicely, and when they're all done, we can start worrying about Utah. Labels: boring offseason, kc lopata, kevin grady
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Wednesday, August 06, 2008 by Tim
Michigan team preview starts tomorrow. while you wait, peruse these links: - In case you live under a rock, MGoBlue is going to have a new video up each day until kickoff. See the archive here.
- Hoover Street Rag fills us in on the selections for MMB halftime shows this year. If the Team America song is not included in the "America Rocks" show, I will be sorely disappointed.
- FoxSports has published their "Toughest Places to Play" list. Michigan Stadium ranks #10. I still maintain that there should be two separate lists for home team winning percentage and for fan rabidity during games. (TFJ: Big House Blog).
Labels: boring offseason, facilities, football
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Sunday, August 03, 2008 by Tim
There is no 'q' in the last name of Michigan's head coach. The proper spelling is "Rodriguez."  "My name is Rich Rodriguez, and I approved this message."This has been a public service announcement brought to you by Varsity Blue. Labels: boring offseason, rich rodriguez
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Wednesday, July 30, 2008 by Tim
Back in the spring, the Michigan staff opened its doors to high school and college coaches from around the country, and conducted a coaching clinic. Near-legendary Mike Barwis gave presentations about strength training, and defensive and offensive techniques were taught to the attendees. However, the main event (if not Barwis, of course), was the presentation on how the Michigan offense will work, and the principles behind said offense. Many Michigan fans were curious about why the staff would give away its secrets, especially when the enemies could so easily use this information against the Wolverines (several MSU coaches were rumored to be in attendance). Of course, the coaches wouldn't share all their secrets, nor does a knowledge of the system necessarily reveal the secrets to stopping it. Instead of focusing on the possible negatives from spreading the... spread..., it is necessary to take note of the positives (and realize that they outweigh any potential negatives). I've brought this up before, but looking at future instate prospects, it really hit home to me how beneficial this sharing can be. In 2010, the state of Michigan has a fairly strong recruiting class. Included in this class are two top dual-threat quarterbacks: Robert Bolden from Orchard Lake Saint Mary's and Devin Gardner from Inkster (more on them in the upcoming 2010 recruiting primer). OLSM already runs a form of the spread (though not, if I recall correctly, a read-option), but I'm not sure what type of scheme Inkster runs. The Michigan coaching staff, by teaching its system to high school coaches across the state and country, gives itself an advantage. First, the coaching staffs at the high schools have a familiarity with the Michigan staff, and will not hesitate to encourage a player to commit to the Wolverines in the future. Second, players will be comfortable going to a school with an offensive system they ran in high school, and will have a leg up on learning the system by the time they enroll in college. By giving high school coaches in the state access to the Michigan coaching staff and their knowledge of the spread offense, it helps the high schools develop prospects speficially for Michigan's system, and also gives the Wolverines an upper hand in recruiting these youngsters. Labels: boring offseason, coaching, football
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Sunday, July 27, 2008 by Tim
Items of note (obviously subject to major change after fall camp): - Your OL (from left to right): Ortmann, McAvoy, Moosman, Zirbel, Schilling.
- Starting TE: Butler or Massey.
- Greg Mathews and JR Hemingway starting split ends.
- Toney Clemons starting slot, backed by... Jim Potempa?
- Threet and Sheridan listed as co-starter at QB.
- Moundros over Helmuth at FB.
- RB: Minor over a three-way tie between Brown, Grady, and Horn.
- Starting linebackers: S-Austin Panter, M-Obi Ezeh OR Johnny Thompson, W-Marell Evans OR Jonas Mouton.
- SS listed as BHarrison OR CStewart.
- Return specialists: Punt - Warren, Kick - Brandons Minor and Harrison.
The VB Depth chart will probably be updated in short order, as part of the team preview. Labels: boring offseason, depth chart, football, personnel
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Saturday, July 26, 2008 by Tim
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Thursday, July 24, 2008 by Tim
...and your freshmen are numbered thusly: Ricky Barnum - 56 Boubacar Cissoko - 33 Mike Cox - 15 Kenny Demens - 25 Justin Feagin - 5 JB Fitzgerald - 42 JT Floyd - 12 Taylor Hill - 36 Rocko Khoury - 63 Kevin Koger - 86 Mike Martin - 68 Sam McGuffie - 2 Elliott Mealer - 57 Brandon Moore - 88 Martavious Odoms - 9 Patrick Omameh - 65 Dan O'Neill - 78 Terrence Robinson - 7 Roy Roundtree - 16 Michael Shaw - 20 Brandon Smith - 28 Daryll Stonum - 22 Kurt Wermers - 64 Marcus Witherspoon - 4 Labels: boring offseason, football, uniforms
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Sunday, July 20, 2008 by Paul
I signed up for XBox Live this weekend. This was almost exclusively for the online dynasty feature of NCAA09. I'm looking to get a dynasty started Monday after work (about 5pm EDT). I have two other people already on board, so we only need nine more to max out. If you want to join in and have time to play at least one game most days, e-mail me at panel |at| umich |dot| edu with NCAA09 in the subject line, you gamertag and if you have a conference preference. If you just want to beat someone who occaisionally blogs about Michigan, my gamer tag is Paul VBlue. Feel free to friend/challenge/whatever people do on Live. Labels: boring offseason, I posted, ncaa09
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Thursday, July 17, 2008 by Paul
This edition of NCAA seems to have drawn more hand wringing and fist pumping than any of the previous iterations. I'm not sure if that's because there is a big split between the hardcore football simulation fans and the casual gamer or that the Internet allows for such a build up and subsequent thrashing. I'm not sure where I fall in that spectrum. The most editing I've ever done to the rosters is adding in the names of Michigan players (occasionally updating numbers, hometowns) and basic slider work (I hate when a wide open WR drops a ball). Yet, I usually end up going a least 10 seasons deep in a dynasty, so I think I'm somewhere in the middle. I got the game at midnight and have played Coop-dynasty, solo-dynasty, legend mode, and a player vs. player game. After those few hours, I have some quick hits: - The movement and actions seem a lot more engine based rather than animation based.
- The stadiums look pretty amazing and the ambient sounds have improved considerably (and I haven't even added the custom sounds yet).
- Dynasty recruiting in season is still super tedious, but the quickcall feature makes it much more bearable. (Quick aside: I bought the game and wanted to get right in and play some dynasty games, but had to spend about 25 minutes getting all the preseason stuff in order. I get it, but it's a drag)
- Playing a game co-op is way more fun than in previous editions. Breaking routes to wholes in the zone and coming back for the jumpball are really fun. So is just levelling someone with an impact block on an option run or toss play.
- Legend mode is basically the same except it's more difficult to keep that 2.0. I used to be able to do whatever I wanted and keep at least a 3.7 now I'm hovering around 2.6-7 (more realistic?)
- I recommend doing Legend mode as a WR.
- My defense in 08 consisted mainly of OLB blitz to free the DE off the edge. That doesn't work so well in this game. In fact, nothing really works to get to the QB. I've picked up some sacks, but they are usually coverage sacks. Brandon Graham got pancaked multiple times by Toledo...
- The AI for pass defense is a bit weak. If they could split the difference of 08 and 09 I think it would be about perfect. I can usually just throw it up and Matthews will come down with it.
- I recommend Texas Tech if you're playing against a person. They're a ton of fun with Harrel throwing to Crabtree. I feel most PvP games in 09 are going to be offense based and I don't think there is a more fun offense in the game.
I'm looking to start an online dynasty with a few friends this weekend, so I can report back on that later on. Overall I think this game is an improvement over 08. EA is promising two patches (one in 5-10 days the other in 1-2 months) to fix some of the gameplay issues. I'm looking forward to how this game will (finally) come together. Labels: boring offseason, I posted, ncaa09
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by Tim
We have, to your right, the Michigan student football t-shirt from a couple years back. On the left? a new Ohio State t-shirt, completely ripping off the format.  Labels: boring offseason, ohio state hate, t-shirts
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Tuesday, July 15, 2008 by Paul
Going through the old WOLV tapes, I finally found the original masters of the Shomari and Sean O'Neill Show. In their 1997-98 season they interviewed Charles Woodson a number of times. This episode includes an interview with the soon to be Heisman Trophy winner at Good Time Charlie's slightly before the Ohio State Game. In case you didn't hear, he ordered the monster order of fries... Labels: boring offseason, I posted, video
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Monday, July 14, 2008 by Paul
ESPN was in Ann Arbor today to tape a Titletown segment on the city of Ann Arbor. No doubt they'll focus on the dominant Pioneer swim teams! I went to the shoot after stopping at Moe's to buy a maize shirt, to fit in. There was a decent crowd, maybe 75-100 partisans. What made the scene funnier was the fact that as their setting up and the crowd is warming up and doing some cheers, there are orientation groups being led through the diag on tours. Just another day at Michigan... Unfortunately the anchor for the section wasn't Dana Jacobsen, but the anchor (Nicole something, I couldn't really here anything from where I was) seemed cool and talked with crowd and whatnot. Anytime Desmond Howard became visible the crowd immediately exploded. One kid shouted "I was born the year you won the Heisman." Kids are so young these days. I've seen a few of the Titletown segments and it really looks like a quick and easy thing that could have been done live; this is not the case. We did each take multiple times. The producer would give us hand gestures to tell us when to get loud, to cue the band, to let the cheerleaders when to do what they do. I felt like the mob should at least get a small appearence fee for trying to get into to football saturday roudy mode on a Monday at noon. A couple times the ESPN crew had to reshoot a section because (get this) the fans were TOO LOUD. This could be the only time Michigan fans outside of Yost have ever been too loud. I will remember this always. When the producer told us to cheer quietly during an interview with Desmond Howard, I thought "Finally! Someone playing to Michigan Fan's strengths!" Overall it was an fun experience even though I could care less about yet another mythical title that the WWL seems intent on creating bi-annually. Hopefully the small group of fans did the University proud. The A^2 T^2 segment will air on the 6 o'clock Sportscenter on July 20th Labels: boring offseason, I posted, titletown
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Sunday, July 13, 2008 by Tim
Hooray Alliteration!Is Ann Arbor TitleTown?
Be part of ESPN's TitleTown segment on Ann Arbor!
Come to the Diag on Monday, July 14th at 11am in order to participate in the taping of this segment.*
*Taping will begin at noon and finish at 1pm
Former Michigan Great Desmond Howard will be on hand for the interview portion.
For more information, visit sports.espn.go.com/espn/titletown/index. Labels: boring offseason, still not football
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Monday, June 30, 2008 by Paul
The new Recruiting Board is up, so I thought I should go over some of the new features. When Tim and I were discussing what would be ideal, we started thinking something that was basically a message board with each prospect getting his own thread. The only problem there was formatting the information and making it look nice and convey the information quickly. And then there are the issues of maintenance and moderation inherent in message boards. It seemed like a hybrid would be the best solution, so now you can comment on each and everyone of the recruits individually. Any info or articles, rumors you've heard, an opinion/gut feeling you have, anything that could give a more rounded picture of the prospect can be posted there. You have to register, but that is really quick and no personal information is required ( the registration link is at the bottom of the board as well as under the comments section- Tim). This helps prevents spambots from doing what they do and gives troll another hurdle. I hope everyone will contribute so we can have a super complete, informative source for the 2009 class. Labels: blog news, boring offseason, I posted, recruiting
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Wednesday, May 07, 2008 by Tim
After Braylon Edwards stated yesterday in an ESPN chat that Rich Rodriguez had decided to give the #1 jersey to an incoming freshman - who wasn't a wide receiver (and later clarified on the Mike Tirico Show that it is in fact a defensive back - people are telling me it's JT Floyd), Michigan fans seemed to be clearly split on the issue. Jared Kent West Union IA: What are your thoughts on the new MICHIGAN regime.
Braylon Edwards: I am already mad that Rich Rod because he gave the No.1 jersey to someone other than a WR, which is breaking tradition. But I think he is a great coach and will lead Michigan to a turnaround. It is important to note here that Braylon is throwing his support behind Rodriguez, and it is merely one issue that the two disagree on (no pun intended). Braylon even said on the Tirico show that he planned to call Rodriguez and voice his displeasure/suggestion. Background on the #1Who has worn the jersey before? Paul Goebel wore it waaay back in the day (when "wide receivers" didn't exist - he was a "forward pass receiving end" on offense), and since then, fellow Wolverines Anthony Carter, Derrick Alexander, David Terrell, and Braylon Edwards have followed in Goebel's footsteps and earned All-American honors.  Until his junior year, Edwards wore the #80 jersey. He believed that, as a very good receiver, he should be able to wear the #1. When Edwards approached Lloyd Carr with this request, he was told that he would have to earn the number. Braylon, who had previously had a reputation as a less-than-stellar effort player and far from a workout warrior, put in the time in the weight room, and became the player that Carr believed he could be. The motivational tactic paid off, and Lloyd gave Braylon the #1 jersey. Stellar junior and senior years showed that he had indeed learned his lesson, and made him into the #3 overall pick in the NFL draft. It is plain to see why the #1 holds a special place in Braylon's heart. Upon his graduation, Braylon began to establish what has become a fairly robust charity, known as the Braylon Edwards Foundation. Since Edwards was told by Lloyd he had to earn the right to wear the #1 jersey at Michigan, the number meant something special. As part of the BEF, Edwards endowed a scholarship for the wearer of the #1 jersey at Michigan: The Scholarship Endowment for the University of Michigan's No. 1 football jersey was announced in April 2006. The charitable gift provides support to a student/athlete wearing the No. 1 football jersey. The scholarship endowment will recognize future athletes who demonstrate character and commitment both on and off the field. Athletes wearing the No. 1 jersey are selected by U-M's coaching staff. When he gave the original endowment, Edwards undoubtedly believed that the tradition of #1 going to a wide receiver would be continued. Rich Rodriguez was either unaware of this, or didn't care about it. The #1 should go to whomever asks for itThis camp of fans believes that Michigan should not reserve the #1 jersey for anything special, and that any player who asks for it should receive the uno. Since nobody had to earn the jersey before Braylon, there was no real tradition before him, despite the illustrious gentlemen who preceded him. Since Rodriguez and his staff are trying to turn around a program that has been slowly slipping from the forefront of American consciousness, they should reserve the right to do whatever they so choose with any number. They will be able to establish their own traditions. The #1 should be reservedThis bloc wants the #1 to continue being something special, going to any transcendent Michigan receiver. While a defensive back may want the jersey, he should be told that he is out of luck, and to pick a different number. Tradition is one of the aspects that sets college football apart from almost every other sport, and even if one does not exist yet (as those other fans suggest), it should be established. My TakeI believe, in this particular instance and overall, that the #1 jersey should be reserved for a wide receiver. Braylon has expressed displeasure with granting it to a different position, and what is the benefit of alienating one of the highest-profile Wolverines in the NFL (arguably 2nd behind Tom Brady)? Overall, I think that establishing traditions like reserving #1 for a great wide receiver, or #2 for a great defensive back (which has not been done, but I think should be in honor of Woodson) can only help the program. It can restore some mystique that has perhaps been lost from the Michigan program, and can be used as a major recruiting tool. This also leads me to the topic of retiring numbers. I think it is appropriate for Michael Jordan's number to be retired from the Chicago Bulls, and  certainly for Jackie Robinson's #42 to be retired throughout baseball. However, I think that college sports are not served by retiring numbers. Establishing tradition and continuing said traditions (as mentioned above) give personality to schools like Michigan (whose prestige is largely based upon tradition), and can help with recruiting, as players undoubtedly believe they can carry on the tradition (or at least want to try). While the Wistert Brothers did great things at the University of Michigan, it may be disrespectful to prevent anyone from trying to follow in their tradition. And what high-profile running back recruit wouldn't want to follow in the footsteps of Old 98 (which would be an awesome number for a tailback to have in the modern game). In the end, I guess I'm a traditionalist (whether that be continuing old ones, starting new ones, or supporting fledgling ones). Leave the #1 to a wide receiver. As someone said to me yesterday, "Keeping and establishing traditions cost nothing. Eliminating them can destroy your program." Labels: boring offseason, braylon edwards, football, NFL who cares, tradition
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Wednesday, April 16, 2008 by Tim
Various commenters have let me know that the audio levels on yesterday's videos are too low. I'll fix that and repost them later today. Also, since today is the last day of spring practice, the post-spring reports will be published over the next couple of days. This includes: - Updated Scholarship count
- Post-spring depth charts
- Post-spring recruiting needs
- Summer preview
Look forward to it, yo. Labels: boring offseason, football, spring
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